[Adopted 6-8-1977; amended 10-11-2017 (Ord. No. 10-008)]
There shall be created an agency of Town government to be known as the "Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency" (hereinafter referred to as "EMHSA"). Said agency shall be under the supervision of the Director of Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (hereinafter referred to as the "Emergency Management Director"). Such Emergency Management Director shall be appointed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Town of Thompson. During times of emergency, Constables of the Town of Thompson will report to and take direction from the Emergency Management Director as provided for in Chapter
70, Officers and Employees, Article
IV, Constables.
The Emergency Management Director will serve at the will of
the Chief Executive Officer and may be removed by the Chief Executive
Officer at any time.
The Emergency Management Director of the EMHSA is a staff person
reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer of the Town of Thompson,
and shall perform the following:
A. Advise the Chief Executive Officer on matters pertaining to civil
preparedness and disaster emergency operations.
B. Coordinate the activities of all Town agencies in disaster emergency
situations, but in no case will the Emergency Management Director
assume command of any agency or department other than the EMHSA, unless
directly ordered to do so by the Chief Executive Officer.
C. Coordinate the activities of all EMHSA forces, and will be responsible
for the recruitment and training of needed EMHSA personnel.
D. Assist the Chief Executive Officer in the preparation and updating
of Town emergency operations plans and standard operating procedures.
E. Maintain contact with the Emergency Management and Homeland Security
area office designated for the Town of Thompson and will cooperate
with the State Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security
in preparation of required reports, procedures, and other necessary
paperwork to ensure the Town is receiving all possible funding, equipment,
and other benefits available to the Town through state and federal
agencies.
[Amended 5-30-2023]
The mission of Emergency Management and Homeland Security is
to utilize effective planning, training, and coordination to provide
a comprehensive and integrated emergency management system that coordinates
community resources to protect lives, property, and the environment
through mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery from all
natural and man-made hazards that may impact the Town of Thompson.
The Director will perform such other EMHSA-related functions
as may, from time to time, be assigned by the Chief Executive Officer
of the Town of Thompson.
[Adopted 8-17-2011 (Ord.
No. 10-025)]
The First Selectperson as the Chief Executive Officer of the
Town of Thompson is authorized to declare a local disaster emergency
in accordance with the provisions of Connecticut General Statutes
§§ 28-8(a) and 28-1(8), as amended.
Upon the declaration of a local disaster emergency by the First
Selectperson of the Town of Thompson, the First Selectperson or his/her
designee, and the local Emergency Management Director, shall exercise
all powers and authority granted to the municipality and/or its Chief
Executive Officer under Title 28 of the Connecticut General Statutes,
as amended.
In terms of serious disaster or civil emergency, the First Selectperson
of the Town of Thompson, or his/her designee, is authorized to activate
the municipal emergency operation center. The commanding officer of
the Connecticut State Police, Troop D, the chiefs of the municipal
fire departments, the Director of the Northeast District Department
of Health, the Emergency Management Director, or their representatives,
shall assist the First Selectperson in evaluating the need for the
declaration of a local disaster emergency.
[Amended 5-30-2023]
In times of serious disaster or civil emergency, the First Selectperson
of the Town of Thompson, or his/her designee, will coordinate his
or her responsive activities with the appropriate area coordinator
from the Connecticut Division of Emergency Management and Homeland
Security.